BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1989
“It’s Only Love” was the lead single taken from British soul band Simply Red’s third studio album, A New Flame released in February 1989. The song was originally recorded by American soul singer Barry White and titled “It’s Only Love Doing Its Thing”. The Simply Red cover had its greatest success by charting at #1 in Italy. In the UK the single peaked at #13 while in the US the song reached #57 on the Billboard Hot 100.
SIDE A:
It’s Only Love (Valentine Mix) 5:44
Remix – Michael Hutchinson
Written-By – Jimmy & Vella Cameron*
SIDE B:
Turn It Up 4:34
Written-By – L. Dozier*, M. Hucknall*
X 4:50
Recorded By – Daren Klein
Written-By – Joyce*, McIntyre*, Kirkham*, Kellet*, Bowers*
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint (Company sleeve)
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | It’s Only Love | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #57 |
| 1989 | It’s Only Love | U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | #19 |
| 1989 | It’s Only Love | U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles | #21 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Elektra – 0-66713
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Funk / Soul, Jazz, Pop
Style: Rhythm & Blues, Soul, Jazz-Funk
Credits: Engineer, Mixed By – Daren Klein (tracks: A, B1)
Producer – Stewart Levine (tracks: A, B1)
NOTES:
Original version appears on the LP: “A NEW FLAME”
Find The 12″ On DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Speed Control: Pro-Ject Speed Box S
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removeal: ClickRepair (DeClick Level 3)
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Thanks for this one Paul. Great sexy song.
Such a classy track when the pop charts were worth checkng.
Thanks Paul 🙂
Come to my aid uk extended version please!!!!
A timely post for the coming V-Day, Paul. Thanks!
It is not often that a music act scored the biggest hit with the second single from an album.
Simply Red amazingly did it twice, and both second singles hit #1.
Their debut single, Money’s Too Tight was only peaked at #28.
And speaking of which, I hope this single is in your collection, especially the UK Bob Sargeant 12″, which is surprisingly rarer than the US Thompson & Barbiero mixes.
http://www.discogs.com/Simply-Red-Moneys-Too-Tight-To-Mention/release/437893
That IS a rare occurence, but I remember a period in 1988 where at least 3 different recording acts scored the biggest hits from their respective albums with the FOURTH single from their album: Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine’s “Anything For You”, Debbie Gibson’s “Foolish Beat” and Richard Marx’s “Hold On To The Nights”. They all went to #1 and not only were they the fourth singles from each of their albums, they were also the artists’ first songs ever to reach #1. I know I heard it mentioned on “American Top 40”, but I don’t remember if it… Read more »
You’re definitely right, Dan.
And I’ve one more to add, Expose did it with single number 4 as well when Season’s Change hit #1 in early 1988
Yes, thank you for reminding me! I knew there was another fourth single that went to #1 that year, but I couldn’t remember which one. And guess what? I just realized that “Love Bites” by Def Leppard (also from 1988) bests them all by being the FIFTH single released from an album which turned out to be that album’s biggest hit. The first four were “Women”, “Animal”, “Hysteria” and “Pour Some Sugar On Me”.
one of my favourite bands!!!!
thank u very much dj!!!
hope you will post more from them sometime!!!!
it’s only love what we feel for you!!!!
thanx a lot!!!!
You’re welcome Giorgio. I will post more 🙂
Thank you Paul!!! I love Simply Red.Great post.
You’re welcome Guss 🙂
This remix is a masterclass in how to take a cool song and give it that extra wow factor! 🙂
Agreed, Music_fan! Remixers today are too egotistical. The songs and original artists are backseat passengers to mixers these days. Mixes are soooo loud today and instead of being enhanced by technology, they just sound mechanical and perfunctory. The glory days of mixers completely reconstructing songs faded with the 90s.
I suspect the rise of the “superstar DJs” in the 90s had a lot to do with it. Sad indeed!
Awesome…..Any more from Simply Red, Paul?
As always thanks..!
You’re welcome Ex15. I may have one or two more singles I’ll have to look.
Based on the cheer quality of their catalogue alone I wouldn’t consider Simply Red a OHW. Sadly, this song helps contribute to that myth, as it was not a hit in the US. Too bad, cuz it’s an ace track. I was living in England when the album Stars was current and Simply Red could do no wrong. Radio, Pubs, record shops–nothing but that album. A New Flame was a decent follow-up but lacked the calibre Stars had. Thanks for this post!
Thae had two #1 singles in the US so they are certainly not a one hit wonder. I don’t understand why this single didn’t do better in the US.
Uh, that’s SHEER quality…not cheer. But I think you got the point.
Main track i remmber new flame not sure about this one ill give it a try may remmber it cheers
Hope you like it Dazz22 🙂
Great single for Valentine’s Day. The 12″ is excellent. Thanks Paul.
You’re welcome Omar 🙂
Is it true Simply Red are considered domething of a one hit wonder in the US?
ISTR watching a programme like Pop-up Video that referred to them as such, and we were all like… Wtfff?!!
I don’t think so Jermajesty.
“Holding Back The Years #1 Billboard Hot 100
“If You Don’t Know Me By Now” #1 Billboard Hot 100
And they also chart on the Dance, R&B and Adult Contemporary charts.
I suppose they could be considered a Two-Hit Wonder in the US as far as the Pop Charts are concerned. Anyone who followed only the Pop Charts might remember them for their two #1’s, but they also had a few other Top 40 hits and a few under the Top 40 like this one that are virtually forgotten about today. But like Paul said, they charted multiple times on several different charts, so they are hardly One-Hit Wonders in the technical sense.